Eight for Nine Makes for a Day to Remember

Jockey Pat Day entered this month with 7,545 wins, trailing only Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay Jr. on the all-time list.

Day, 45, got eight of those winners on one afternoon, 10 years ago today.

It happened at Chicago’s Arlington Park, where he won on eight of nine mounts, believed to be the best one-day winning percentage in racing history. Since 1978, three other riders have had eight winners in one day, but each had 10 mounts.

In 1987, Chris Antley had nine winners in 14 mounts, riding in the day card at Aqueduct in New York and the night program at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Day broke an Arlington record established by Earlie Fires, who had gone seven for eight on both Aug. 16, 1983, and May 25, 1987.

Day’s only loser at Arlington that day was aboard Wayne’s By George, who finished second.

Afterward, Day said he had not had time to ponder his win streak.

“They were running the races pretty fast,” he said.

“I was aware of the number of races I was winning . . . but it was sort of a fantasy thing that became a reality.”

Day’s mounts won the daily double and also the Pick 3. The payoff range of the eight winners was $7 to $23.60.

Only two of his winners were betting favorites: Wonder’s Delight ($4.20) in the fifth, and Plane Threatening ($4.80) in the ninth.

Also on this date: In 1902, baseball’s most famous double-play combination--Joe Tinker-to-Johnny Evers-to-Frank Chance--made its first appearance together for the Chicago Cubs.